UCAS Code

Places available (subject to change)

About the course

Whether you’re hoping to go into the fashion industry or work in interiors, our Textile Practice (Textile Design) BA/BSc(Hons) course gives you the opportunity to experiment with a breadth of materials. From creating new and innovative fabric designs to thinking about the textiles all around us, you’ll be able to develop your aesthetic, commercial and professional awareness.

Yarns, fibres, materials, this course aims to get you thinking about textiles, techniques and processes, and thinking creatively about the possibilities that textiles open up. We’ll look at digital design, knitting, weaving, embroidery/stitching and printing/dying. You’ll have the opportunity to try out each technique, and understand how you can develop your practical approaches for the fashion and interior industries.

We’ll look at current and predicted global trends in fashion and interiors, and you might well have the chance to explore new technologies alongside the more traditional approaches. And, if possible, we’ll get you working in projects with the wider community and industry sponsors. You could even enter prestigious design competitions. And we’ll give you the opportunity to go on field trips to trade shows and exhibitions so you can put everything in a cultural context.

While you get a feel for the practical side of things we’ll aim to develop some key skills that will be useful for lots of careers. Like your creative, professional, intellectual and personal skills, all of which could help you become a contemporary textile practitioner, designer maker or commercial designer. Sustainability and design ethics are an important part of the course, both in theory and practice, and we'll give you the chance to learn how you can use your creativity to develop solutions to real-world problems.

The course is accredited by the Textile Institute, a worldwide organisation for textiles, clothing and footwear. At the end of your studies, you will have had every chance to develop your knowledge of materials and techniques, as well as your commercial awareness, professional practice, product innovation, sustainable futures and supporting theories.

We believe in keeping your options open as you study too. Textile Practice (Textile Design) BA/BSc(Hons) is part of a suite of three courses that includes Textile Practice (Textile Crafts and Art) BA/BSc(Hons) and Textile Practice (Surface Design) BA/BSc(Hons). Once you’ve enrolled on one of the courses, you’re free to switch to another during the final year (with the agreement of your tutors) if your interests change. You only have to apply for one course within the suite we offer.

A student of Textile Practice has the chance to develop their passion for textiles, crafts or surfaces into a portfolio preparing them for a future career within their industry. The textiles team has the knowledge and experience to help develop the skills of students, revealing their potential as the designers, makers and contemporary practitioners of tomorrow.

Matthew Taylor, Course Leader

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (48 weeks) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Alternatively, if you are a student from within the UK or the EU, you could consider starting your own small business by applying for the Enterprise Placement Year in conjunction with the University’s Enterprise Team. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from business advice, mentoring and networking sessions. You can find out more information on the Enterprise Placement Year here.

Candidates for whom English is not the first language are required to have International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at a score of 6.0 overall and no less than 5.5 in any component (academic or general test).

You will also be required to attend a satisfactory interview, when strong emphasis will be placed on the quality of your portfolio.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Explore our facilities

Explore the facilities and technical resources available to art, design and architecture students at the University of Huddersfield including laser cutting and 3D printing.

You’ll see the spaces in which our students work from design suites to textile workshops and photography studios, plus examples of the inspiring work they produce.

Course Detail

Introduction to Professional Practice

This module is a foundation which aims to introduce you to the range of professional practice routes that you will be able to study through the Intermediate and Honours levels of the course. You will be able to creatively explore the routes of the Designer Maker, Designer for Industry and Contemporary Practitioner. Working on a range of industry led, self-written and independent projects you will begin to establish an understanding of material process, colour, theory, technical, expressive, analytical and applied research skills and produce a portfolio of work (worth 100% of module marks).

Introduction to Materials and Process

This module introduces you to the fundamental processes of textiles and surface materials through a series of practical workshop activities. You will be encouraged to develop an understanding and working knowledge of both hard and soft materials using the print, dye, knit, embroidery and weave workshops. You will be able to explore new technologies alongside traditional hand processes to produce a portfolio of creative samples and technical knowledge (worth 100% of the module marks) which are inspired by your visual research.

Visual Research

Visual research and its relationship to your practice will be introduced in this module. You will be asked to produce a portfolio of drawings from both primary and secondary research (worth 100% of the module marks) with an emphasis on developing your own personal vocabulary. A diverse range of colour application/theory, drawing, mixed-media, 3-D and digital techniques will be explored to foster an experimental and analytical approach and develop an aesthetic understanding in relation to your material and textile sampling.

Introduction to Theory and Context

The vital discourses and debates surrounding the influences, production and critical reception of contemporary textiles and surface design will be explored in this module. You will be supported in developing a grounded understanding of the context of theory and its relationship to practice and business. We’ll also help you to address key concepts, encouraging you to expand your understanding of how the subject relates to other disciplines (film, media, popular culture, business and marketing). You will be asked to produce a contextual portfolio of written outcomes, comprising project proposals, critical reviews, creative writing and market reports (worth 100% of the module marks).

Creative Professional Practice

This module will be directly informed by your advanced materials and process module and allows you to explore a series of outcomes which will expand and develop methods of research, sampling, making and presentation within your practice area of:
- designer maker (for textile, craft, art, design or surface design)
- commercial designer (for textile or surface design)
- contemporary practice (for textile craft, art or surface design)

Advanced Materials and Process

You will have the chance to gain an in-depth knowledge of selected textiles, surface and craft techniques through exploration and experimentation in the workshops, in relation to your chosen specialism. The emphasis will be on learning through an inventive, creative and experimental approach through a series of practical projects, with emphasis on using visual research and development skills to produce challenging outcomes to briefs. You will be asked to produce a portfolio of work (100% of the module marks) that comprises visual research and development, initial concepts, experimental and innovative samples and supporting technical information.

Theoretical and Ethical Studies

This module aims to build on the knowledge and skills obtained at Foundation level and develop your ability to understand and engage critically with a range of visual, oral and written contexts that inform textiles and surface design. You will have the opportunity to research, appraise and analyse cultural debates and critical conventions, and use these selectively to define and evaluate your own work within wider contexts. 50%/50%.

School of Art and Design Placement

You will normally spend a total of 48 weeks between the end of year two and the beginning of your final year in a managed work experience. You will be encouraged to obtain a placement activity relevant to your area of specialism, however a wide range of placements will be regarded as suitable. The placement will be monitored and you will be assessed on completion. (100%).

Research and Development for Textile Practice

This module is designed to establish and inform your major project. Within it you will be encouraged to identify a theme/subject/issue relevant to your practice.
The module aims to re-emphasise the importance of in-depth research, within which you will be encouraged to demonstrate originality, pro-activity and innovation.
You’ll be able to define the context and parameters of this module through negotiation and ongoing dialogue with your tutors. 100% portfolio.

Major Project - Textile Design

You’ll be encouraged to concentrate your work on a mature and self-motivated approach, based on a self-prepared and realistic design brief, including an action plan. You will have the opportunity to build upon and test research developed in THD1340 Research and Development. You will be encouraged to channel your creative and intellectual skills, either as an individual or as part of a collaboration or interdisciplinary team, to create, innovate original or highly professional propositions appropriate to textile design for fashion or interiors. You will be supported in realising the potential of your major project in a form appropriate to your intentions. All the studies will be directed towards the presentation of work for an exhibition and an enhanced portfolio. 100%.

Option modules:

Choose either -

BA(Hons)

Theory for Textile Practice

The module is specifically designed to unfold throughout the final year reflecting theoretical, technical and professional issues appropriate to your practice.
The module is intended to be a critical and diagnostic tool with which to examine your work. It can be made up of a series of outputs and will help you to determine and contextualise the direction of your practice-based modules.
The process of reflection, research and critical analysis is vital to the module. It will help you to identify connections between concept, method, realisation and mediation of your major project. It will allow you to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge and insight into your specialism enabling you to make informed decisions/judgments related to your practical outputs. 20% verbal presentation/80% project

Or

BSc(Hons)

Technical for Textile Practice

This module enables you to complement your major project by undertaking an in-depth market/technical analysis and evaluation of your finalised design. You will be encouraged to extend and apply your knowledge of manufacturing, production and specification design to your design practice: products, environments, buildings, materials etc. You will be asked to demonstrate critical analysis and evaluation of market, technical, manufacturing and economic aspects relating to your design solutions. 20% oral presentation / 80% project package.

28.7% of the study time on this course is spent in workshop demonstrations, taught classes and lectures etc.

You will learn through studio-based projects, workshop demonstrations, workshop practicals, lectures and group work. We adopt a range of assessment methods to test the learning outcomes within each module, and your assessment will include production of portfolios, research and development work, presentations, technical records and written assignments.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results.Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Inspirational field trips to destinations of educational and cultural significance are a compulsory component of the course and will be funded by the University. Trips may include visits to museums, exhibitions and trade shows.

Further information

The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course, you may have to attend every day of the week.

Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

Teaching excellence

Huddersfield is a TEF gold-rated institution delivering consistently outstanding teaching and learning of the highest quality found in the UK (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2017).

We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (HEA, 2017).

Here at Huddersfield, you’ll be taught by some of the best lecturers in the country. The University is number one in England for the proportion of staff with teaching qualifications (HEFCE, 2016).

For the past ten years, we’ve been the UK’s leading university for National Teaching Fellowships too, which rate Britain’s best lecturers. It’s all part of our ongoing drive for teaching excellence, which helps our students to achieve great things too.

We’re unique in the fact that all our permanent teaching staff* have, or are completing, doctorates. This expertise, together with our teaching credentials, means that students here learn from knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers and academics who are at the forefront of their subject area.

*Permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield, once they have started teaching; research degrees applies to those on contracts of more than half-time.

Facilities

Facilities

Student Work

A gallery of work by our students and graduates, from our suite of Textile Practice courses. Click on each image to find out more.You can see work from across the School of Art, Design and Architecture on our gallery page.

Claire Harvey

Graduated in 2015

Claire Harvey

Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors BA/BSc(Hons)

Graduated in 2015

Hannah Reuter

Graduated in 2015

Hannah Reuter

Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors BSc(Hons)

Graduated in 2015

Rebecca Holden

Graduated in 2015

Rebecca Holden

Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors BA/BSc(Hons)

Graduated in 2015

Your career

We know you’re coming to university to undertake your course, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

So while you’re here (and even after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs and one-to-one guidance sessions. Find out more about the Service.

*Whilst this is a new course and therefore no graduate statistics are available, 86% of graduates from courses in this subject area go on to work and/or further study within six months of graduating. (DLHE Survey 2014/15).

The course aims to help you to develop the skills needed for roles such as product developer, designer, fabric technologist, buyer, merchandiser, stylist and trend forecaster for major retailers and manufacturing companies.

Graduates from our textiles courses are now working in roles at companies including Marks and Spencer, Burberry, Michael Kors and Primark*, as well as Jaguar Land Rover and Crafty Praxis.

Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of your undergraduate studies, there may also be minimum qualification requirements such as a first class or higher second (2.1) degree. Please check the course details to confirm this.

An undergraduate degree from the University of Huddersfield could be the start of an exciting career in your chosen field. Here at Huddersfield 94.5% of our undergraduate students go on to work and/or further study within six months of graduating.*

We have over 1,200 alumni working at 83 of the FTSE100 and 157 of the Fortune500 companies, 3,000 alumni who are company leaders (Founders, Owners or Chief Execs) and 30,400 alumni who are working at a senior level (Director/ Partner or above)

* DLHE 2014/15

I worked at Primeur Ltd for a year as an Assistant Designer in my placement year. It was an invaluable experience in terms of learning the role that designers play in the working of a flooring and home accessories business. I was able to build upon my commerciality as a designer, as well as learning to design towards multiple customers and price points. Therefore, I feel that I have been pushed to become a more versatile designer as a result.

Work experience is something that employers look upon favourably and so I feel that the whole experience has made me more attractive to future employers. I am now currently seeking design roles and freelance work within home furnishings.

Professional links and accreditations

This course is accredited by the Textile Institute, a worldwide organisation for textiles, clothing and footwear. This is reviewed every five years and is valid until 2021.

Career opportunities

The course aims to help you to develop the skills needed for roles such as product developer, designer, fabric technologist, buyer, merchandiser, stylist and trend forecaster for major retailers and manufacturing companies.

Graduates from our textiles courses are now working in roles at companies including Marks and Spencer, Burberry, Michael Kors and Primark*, as well as Jaguar Land Rover and Crafty Praxis.

*Source: LinkedIn

Further study

Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of your undergraduate studies, there may also be minimum qualification requirements such as a first class or higher second (2.1) degree. Please check the course details to confirm this.

Our graduates

An undergraduate degree from the University of Huddersfield could be the start of an exciting career in your chosen field. Here at Huddersfield 94.5% of our undergraduate students go on to work and/or further study within six months of graduating.*

We have over 1,200 alumni working at 83 of the FTSE100 and 157 of the Fortune500 companies, 3,000 alumni who are company leaders (Founders, Owners or Chief Execs) and 30,400 alumni who are working at a senior level (Director/ Partner or above)

* DLHE 2014/15

I worked at Primeur Ltd for a year as an Assistant Designer in my placement year. It was an invaluable experience in terms of learning the role that designers play in the working of a flooring and home accessories business. I was able to build upon my commerciality as a designer, as well as learning to design towards multiple customers and price points. Therefore, I feel that I have been pushed to become a more versatile designer as a result.

Work experience is something that employers look upon favourably and so I feel that the whole experience has made me more attractive to future employers. I am now currently seeking design roles and freelance work within home furnishings.

Laura Ensinger, Textiles with Surface Design BA(Hons) 2016 graduate

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

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Fees and Finance

The full-time undergraduate tuition fee for 18/19 entry will be £9250.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK/EU students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and Finance.

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Initial materials are supplied for workshop sessions but you will also need to supply some of your own materials during the course. These will vary based on the specialism you choose, but could include sketchbooks, art equipment and materials for producing samples, and for printing or presenting your work. The costs of these items may vary based on the materials you choose and there is no limit on the amount you may wish to spend. However, as a guide, costs in recent years have ranged from approximately £280 to £530 per year.

The full-time undergraduate tuition fee for 18/19 entry will be £9250.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK/EU students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and Finance.

If you are an international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Initial materials are supplied for workshop sessions but you will also need to supply some of your own materials during the course. These will vary based on the specialism you choose, but could include sketchbooks, art equipment and materials for producing samples, and for printing or presenting your work. The costs of these items may vary based on the materials you choose and there is no limit on the amount you may wish to spend. However, as a guide, costs in recent years have ranged from approximately £280 to £530 per year.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

We review all optional modules each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let students know in good time the options available for them to choose for the following year.

We will only change core modules for a course if it is necessary for us to do so, for example to maintain course accreditation. We will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before you begin the relevant academic year.

Sometimes we have to make changes to other aspects of a course or how it is delivered. We only make these changes if they are for reasons outside of our control, or where they are for our students’ benefit. Again, we will let you know about any such changes as soon as possible, usually before the relevant academic year. Our regulations set out our procedure which we will follow when we need to make any such changes.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England is the principal regulator for the University.